(And why you’ll suddenly start looking up… everywhere)

You’re wandering through Paris, admiring balconies, dodging scooters, perhaps mid-croissant (or, like me, checking the name of the street (rue) you’ve just crossed as a breadcrumb back to base should your phone battery expire)

…and then you spot one.

A tiny, pixelated alien.
Perched high on a wall. Watching.

Welcome to the wonderfully quirky world of Paris’s Space Invaders mosaics – one of the city’s most playful (and slightly addictive) street art treasures.

So… What Are These Little Creatures?

They’re small mosaic artworks made from ceramic tiles, designed to look like characters from old-school 8-bit video games – especially the classic Space Invaders arcade game. 

Think:

• Pixel aliens 
• Retro ghosts 
• Occasionally, even Mona Lisa or baguette-inspired designs (very Paris) 

Each one is handmade and permanently fixed onto buildings – like a tiny piece of digital nostalgia brought into the real world.

Who Created Them?

The mastermind is a French street artist known as Invader (real name: Franck Slama, though he remains famously anonymous). He started placing these mosaics in Paris in the mid-to-late 1990s, inspired by the video games he grew up with. 

His idea?

To “liberate art” from galleries
To bring digital pixels into physical space
And to “invade” cities with playful, unexpected works 

Yes… he literally calls each city installation an “invasion.”

Why Are They There?

Because Paris needed a little mischief. But also, more meaningfully:

• Art for everyone – no tickets, no queues 
• A blend of digital + physical worlds 
• A global art game you can participate in 

In fact, Invader even created a scoring system and an app where people can “hunt” and log each mosaic they find – turning the whole city into a kind of real-life treasure hunt. 

(You know I love a little purposeful wandering… this is next-level.)

Where Do You Find Them in Paris?

Everywhere… once you start looking! Typical hiding spots:

• High up on building corners 
• Near street signs 
• Above doorways 
• Tucked into unexpected facades 

They’re often deliberately placed just out of easy reach – both for visibility and to avoid the tiles being souvenired. Hotspots include:

• Le Marais 
• The Latin Quarter 
• Montmartre 
• Around the Seine 

There are over 1,000+ mosaics in Paris alone – so yes, you’ll spot quite a few once your eye is in. 

And Here’s the Fun Part…

Once you see one… you can’t stop.

You’ll find yourself:

• Looking up at every corner 
• Scanning every wall 
• Quietly competing with yourself 

It becomes less about sightseeing…and more about spotting.

Are They Only in Paris?

Not even close. This is a global “invasion.” Invader has placed mosaics in:

• London 
• New York 
• Tokyo 
• Hong Kong 
• Los Angeles 
• Melbourne 
• And dozens more cities worldwide 

In fact:

• There are thousands of mosaics across 70–80+ cities globally 
• One has even made it to the International Space Station (because… of course it has) 

Paris, however, remains his most heavily “invaded” city – lucky us.

Final Thought (And a Little Challenge) 

Paris already invites you to slow down.

The Space Invaders give you a reason to:

• Look up 
• Notice more 
• And turn wandering into a game 

So next time you’re strolling along the Seine or getting lost in Montmartre…keep your eyes peeled.

Because somewhere above you, a tiny pixelated alien is waiting to be found.

Let us know if you’ve sighted these little critters – Paris, London, Melbourne, Tokyo or elsewhere- by dropping a line in the comments section!

As we embraced lockdown, I ‘pivoted’ (seriously, how could I not exploit the most overused word of that period, huh?) to share hints and tips for living a life filled with elegance and passion via the blog’s additional topics; fuelled by your brilliant suggestions and feedback. From career inspiration to personal confessions, a sanity check during those dark days, and available via the menus should you wish to dive in.  But back to travel!

Indulge Divulge ignited the desire to jump off the tourist junket and explore and write about the lesser-known parts of the countries and cities I’ve had the privilege of visiting. Living with the locals in the fishing villages of Italy’s Cinque Terre; seeking the space invader tile montages tucked away in the back streets of Paris; marvelling at the soft hues of Florence; revelling in the Mediterranean sunsets on the Cote d’Azur; gasping in awe as Mt Fujiyama briefly peeked through her misty shroud; climbing the walls of Dubrovnik; singing wildly out of key with a Venetian gondolier… I could go on, but that would be just too tossy. I’ll let my stories do the talking.

If you’ve been to those places yourself, a joyful reminder of your own experiences, potential inspiration if building your future travel agenda or simply a chance to vicariously enjoy my ramblings from the comfort of your sofas.

I’m already plotting the next journey and can’t wait to share and inspire again. Of course, my beloved Paris will again be on the agenda, accompanied by the silver fox; after all, Paris – the city of lights – is also known as the city of love!

Stay tuned, lovely readers; meanwhile, enjoy a few blasts from the travel past…

Three days?

The Big Red Bus for a city highlights reconnaissance just to get the bearings. The Eiffel Tower’s pretty sparkles, preferably viewed from the top of the Trocadero. The Arc de Triumph and a prayer for the unnamed soldier beneath. The Champs Élysées for fabulous Xmas fairy lights, Laudree Macarons, the Louis Vuitton Flagship store, Ferrari, Mont Blanc and Sephora.

The Grand and the Petite Palais for pure palace awesomeness. Palace Opera’s ornate mirrored glitz and bodaciously luxe tassels. The Louvre – Mona’s wing. Notre Dame, stand on point zero and admire her pure majesty. Sacre Coeur up there on the hill, mounted by the stairs, followed by a wander through the artists (at non peak to avoid the hustlers). Galleries la Fayette for that stunning domed ceiling. Fueled with plenty of fortification while seated on those cute little red wicker chairs on the Bistro footpaths of course.

Five days?

Add a day trip to Chateau de Versailles for an even bigger palace fix. Napoleon’s Tomb , Place de Voges, the Musee de Orsay, L’Orangerie and Pompidou for extra hits of visual culture. A wander in the Jardins des Tuileries and Jardins des Luxembourg to park your green chair wherever takes your fancy amidst the lush gardens, ponds, statues and Sunday boules players. The Latin Quarter. Bon Marche for the pleasure of feeling your credit card’s sphincter muscle contract. Fueled by still more French fare and people watching over a glass of wine or five.

 Already ticked these boxes? Time to dig a little deeper into the less touristy fare. My top 10 suggestions:

1) Rue de l’Abreuvoir –  it would be remiss to neglect this picturesque road as you wander around Montmartre, followed by Avenue Junot, very chic and along here you will find ‘Pass-muraille’ – the man who could walk through walls.

2) The Je t’aime wall – while still in the region, wander Place des Abbesses, find the small public garden (Square Johan Rictus) and admire ‘Le mur des Je t’aime’  where you’ll find ‘I love you’ written in 311 languages…tres romantic in the city of…well um…romance? For more detail: Jacques and Jane discover the Je T’aime wall

3) Le Moulin de la Gallete – while still in the Montmartre region you’ll find this elegant sister to the Moulin Rouge. One of only two other windmills left in Paris, this one houses a rather elegant restaurant.

4) Space invaders – always, look up as you traverse the more densely populated Arrondissement for high on the walls you will find pixel art mosaic space invaders. Over 1,182 in Paris alone, the brainchild of an anonymous French artist known only as Invader. A tiny buzz each time you find one and a lot less embarrassing than chasing Pokemon. A previous post: Who loves Space Invaders?

5) Porte Saint-Denis and Porte Saint-Martin. Aside from the well-known arches on the ‘Triumphal Way’  (Arc de Triomphe Carrousel, Arc de Triomphe, La Defense), these lesser-known arches are slap dab in the middle of densely populated streets and worth checking out just for their sheer audaciousness.

6) The Louis Vuitton Foundation – oh yes, architect Frank Gehry stretching our minds yet again with one of his most magnificent pieces to date. Right up there with the late great Zaha Hadid.

7) Rue des Rosiers for the Falafels – in Le Marais, my fave Arrondissement where the effortlessly minimalist chic Parisian hangs, particularly cool on a Sunday when the closed streets fill with said chic as they wander the many wine bars and boutiques.

8) Rue Montorgueil on a Friday eve – closed to cars, the street filled with French food open market specialties, from rare Fromage to giant meringues, even rarer chocolate to escargot. Speaking of; check out L’Escargot Bistro for the delicious molluscs for which the restaurant is named (and where I celebrated a milestone birthday and thus can vouch for).

9) The Passages – some quaint, many architecturally magnificent, a few in states of disrepair and all quite special. Check out Passages du Grand Cerf, Galerie Vivienne, Passage Jouffroy and Passages des Panoramas for starters. See more here:   Coffee, cats and more Passages and Loving Parisian Passages

10) A concert in Sainte-Chapelle – within the Palais de la Cite, on the Ill de la Cite and in the heart of Paris. Lazy afternoon light filtering through the most magnificent stained glass windows suffuses an atmosphere that, combined with the pure acoustics of the Chapel itself, may just bring a tear to your eyes. Pure joy.

Enjoy my friends, enjoy. And come back safe.xx

P.S. If you’d like to take in the most magnificent view that actually includes the Eiffel Tower, head to the Montparnasse Tower Panoramic Observation Deck, spectacular!